Page of content

- Introduction..2
- History of Articles3
I Kinds of article
.3
II The definite articles
..4
A
Definition.4
B
Pronunciation..
4
C
Uses..4
III The indefinite
articles. .7
ADefinition.7
B Forms
..7
C
Pronunciation..
7
DUses8
IV Zero
Articles..13
V Repetition of the
Articles...14
VI Articles around the noun in
Context...16
VII Review Table (Summary)
..17
Conclusion
18
1

Bibliography
..19

Introduction
The main objective of this research work is to illustrate the
types

of

particularize

articles

and

their

use

to

generalize

and

a noun used in a sentence or context . It is

usually very difficult for Arabic students to know when and

where to use which article . Furthermore, in Arabic there are
only two articles

AL and

zero . Whereas in English , there

are nearly four . They are the definite , indefinite , zero , and
sometimes repetition .

The layout of this paper is divided into seven parts . it

begins with defining the terms . Then it defines

definite

article , its pronunciation and its use . The following part is

identical to part II but deals with Indefinite articles . The
2

forth
that ,

parts describes
part V

ending part

deals

when the article is worthless . After

with

article

may be

repeated . Then

showing how article is used in context along

with a summary of the articles .

I hope that my work will benefit many of my friends to
know

the

correct

use

of

articles

encourage them to take up other

in

English

and

will

projects in writing . It

will be a start to our other projects in the future.

History of Articles
Historically, the articles are really adjectives. There was a form
of them as a demonstrative adjective. One can see its nature as a
demonstrative with the meaning that in such sentence as: (I was
not there at the time; i.e at that particular time. I told him I was
busy at the moment. That car costs $2500 and was cheap at the
price. He is an engineer, or something of the kind. Lend you
money? I shall do nothing of the kind.
In old English, an was a numeral adjective. A stressed form
become modern English one ; an unstressed form became an. An
was used before consonant sound as well as before vowel sounds
until about 1300 and before sounded h until 1700 or later. At
about the fifteenth century a and an were often written joined to
the noun. Owing to a later wrong division, we get an arpon
(originally a naporn) an adder (original a nadder), an orange
(original a napor) (Eckersley,& Eckersly,1990).
3

I- Kinds of Articles
There are three kinds of articles; the indefinite articles (a) and
(an), the definite articles (the) and the zero article (o). These three
kinds of articles belong to the wider class of determiner words or
phrases that come at the beginning of a noun phrase and signal
whether the information is new or familiar or which tell us
something about quality. The three articles a, an and the are a
kind of adjective. (The) is called the definite article because it
usually precedes a specific or previously mentioned noun; (a) and
(an) are called indefinite articles because they are used to refer to
something in a less specific manner or an unspecified count noun.
These words are almost invariably followed by a noun or
something
else acting as a noun ( Available online at
www.grammer.ccc.comment.edu/grammer/)

II (The Definite Article ) :

A- Definition
Developed from a word meaning this signal a particular
person or thing .
The girl sitting next to her used with a singular + plural
nouns counts or uncount nouns .
4

B- Pronunciation of the definite Article :

( The ) /

:/ before a vowel and /

/ before a

consonant :
The eyes . /

: ais /

The hand. /

: haend /

-The pronounced /

i :/ before a vowel sound it is written

an consonant :
The honesty /

i : onIstl /.

-And we pronounce /

/ before a consonant sound if it

is written as vowel .
The university /

ju: niv3 : siti /

C Uses :
1 For known person or object in the environment :
He walked into the zoo and sat on the bench.
2 For persons thing or ideas particular arise by verbal context.
a preceding context :
A strange woman came up to my car.
The woman seemed very needy.
b following context :
The man in the dark suit will teach us French.
3 The is used in apostrophic construction :

The Smiths family.

The decision of the department .
4 (The) is used with nouns that are unique in the world :
The sky . the moon .
5 - (The) is used for ranking adjective and ordinals
Maradonna was the best player in the eighties .
6 For class as a whole :
The lion is an animal .
7 with names of group geographical areas and oceans :
The Mediterranean . The pacific . The sahara .
8 with decades , or group of years :
He died in the eighties .
9 Use (the) before nouns of kinds of musical instruments
The piano is easy instrument .
10 The with words of time and place .
a points in a progression .
the beginning , the middle , the end .
b points in a time continuum .
the past , the present , the future .
c parts of day .
in the morning , in the afternoon (at noon , at midnight).
d Time expression .
during the year , for the time being .
6

e place
the top , the bottom , the center .
11 The in of phrases after words expressing indefinite
Quality or after a numeral. This determiner is usually the .

of the student (in this

class) passed the
.examination
Most
All
Many
One third

of the student ( in
this class) passed

the examination

Five
The majority
(frank: 1995)

12 Articles in Idioms with verbs .

The with the object
make the beds .
clear the tables .
wash the dishes .
tell the truth .
(frank: 1995)

II The indefinite Article :

7

A Definition : signal as unspecified one of others .

. B forms : Is it a student or a relative phrase
There are two forms of indefinite article (a , an) .
C- Pronunciation : The reduced indefinite article . "a" is
pronounced /

/ before a consonant sound and an/ /

before a vowel sound.

a book

a car

an iron
- We

use ( an ) before

as a consonant:
an hour /
an MA /

an orange
a vowel

sound

n./

even

n .em .a l

if

it

is written

/
/

-And we use (a) before a consonant sound, even if it is

written as a vowel :
a university /

. Ju: n l v3: s l

a one eyed man /

t l

wAn . a l d . mn

Note : We use (a) before (u) and (ju:) when they sound
like
( you) :

a unit / o . ju :. n l t /
a university /. . Ju: n l v3: s l t l /
a European / ju . r 'Pi : . n
/

We use (an ) before words beginning with (h) if

the syllable is unstressed :

an historic / n . h l s' tor .

an hotel / n. h U'tel /

l k/.

Sometimes we pronounce (a) as / e l

/ before a

hesitation when we want to make a consonant with

the :
It is a / e l

/ reason.

It is the only reason.

D- Use of Indefinite Article ( a , an )
1- It is normal , neutral and most typical way of
referring to a single example of something

234-

5-

beginning with a consonant .

He bought a car .
In a sense of one or each.
I waited an hour.
He earns so a mouth.
For an identified member of class .
We saw a giraffe at the zoo.
For a representative member of a class .
a- Identifying and individual member .
That animal is a lion .
b- Defining a smaller class.
The lion is an animal .
With a noun complement , this include names of
professions :
He will be a doctor .
Tom is an artist .

6- In certain expressions of quantity . a lot

He bought a lot of things .
A huge number :
She has a huge number of buildings
7- It precedes certain numerical expression :
a dozen :
He ate a dozen of eggs .
half dozen :

They bought half a dozen of eggs last week for

the restaurant.
a hundred :
One tenth of a thousand is a hundred.
8- The indefinite article may be used with expressions
of time , speed , price ratio ..etc (per replaced by a \
an) .
We have a lecture twice a week .
He drove the car at ninety miles an
hour.
Those gloves cost forty dinars per pair .

9- We use (a , an) when the listener does not know which

thing we mean :
I found a book (not a particular book)
Have you got a pen (not a particular)
10-Before singular countable nouns you can use (a , an)
It is a lovely day.
Do you want an orange?
It is a great book .
11-We often use (a , an) + noun when we say what
something , someone , is like .
A loin is an animal .
That is a really good time .
What a pretty girl .
George is a very generous man .
12-It precedes certain quatifiers :
a few :
She has a few useful books.
a little :
It is a little money .
a huge number of :
A huge number of people here .
13-The words what and such can be used with the
indefinite article to add emphasis :
What a lovely dress.
10

What a small mouse.

She is such a good girl.
14-When a person is unknown to speaker (a) can
introduce their names.
A Mr. Tom called when you were out .
15-We often use either the indefinite article or (one) to
emphasize the number (an hour = one hour)
We stayed for an hour yesterday.
They wrote it in a week .
Tom scored a goal.
16-But when we want to emphasize then only one thing of
person which is being spoken about :
Do you have one brother or two?
I have only one brother .
He can read one book .
17-With some idiomatic expressions we use a :
He finished it in couple of days .
After a fashion :
Every thing is changed after a fashion.
All of a sudden :
All of sudden she caught me strongly.
Along time
I live here for a long time .
As a matter of fact :
As a matter of fact the earth has become
warmer and warmer.
To be a pity :
It is a pity that he is not here.
To be a shame :
It is a shame upon him.
To be a question of :
It is a question of principles.
To have a(good , bed , nice , happy , lucky etc )
time :
We have a good time today.
In a hurry
Why are you in a hurry ?
In a rush
She will be finished it in a rush.
18-The indefinite article is also found with the object of a
verb in certain idioms :
11

(
Morphy: 1997)
To do a favour
They will do a favour by buying tickets for
exhibition.
To tell a lie :
I can not believe , it is a lie.
To make a living
It is not easy to make a living.
To take a trip
We took a trip to France .
To take a picture
I have many pictures of my friends.
To become a reality
My dream became a reality.
To play a joke on
We played many jokes on him at the diner
party.
To call a halt
The officer called a halt to the troops.
To take a look
Take a look at my work done.
19-The indefinite article is used with names of illness ,
especially those associated with pain :
I have a stomach ache.
She has a headache.
20-In a few situations (a, an) has approximately the same
meaning as the number one :
I waited here for an hour or two .
21-More often (a , an) has the meaning of one in the
sense of a single unit or item. In situations of this kind.
I waited here for one or two.
22-One can not be substituted for the indefinite article
without changing the meaning : compare :
I bought a red shirt.
I have only one shirt.
23-After such when used with singular or count noun :
such + adjective + singular + countable noun .
I never say such a bad thing.
She did not see such a huge building.
24-Before noun quantifies such as :
A great deal of a couple of a lot of a few a little a
great + many a little more :
A few girls came last week.
12

We must give a great deal with our children.

(
Morphy: 1997)
IV Zero Articles :
Azar (1992) explained that zero article is a form used
to describe the omission of the definition article. It
used in the following cases.
1- Before plural countable nouns :
Men are strong.
2- Before names of substance and abstract nouns :
Butter is made from cream.
Gold is expensive metal.
Freedom is important for all.
3- Before proper noun :
a- Names of people : (John- Jim- Omar)
b- Names of countries, cities:(Africa- BostonOklahoma.)
c- Names of mountains : (Mount Everest .)
d- Islands, lakes, hills : (Haiti ,Salty, Green Hills)
e- Days and months : (Saturday- April.)
4- Before languages : She speaks Spanish.
5- Before college , bed , mosque , table , market ,
(school, prison , hospital) may take (the) in specific
situation .
When these places are visited or used for their
primary purpose :
Jane studies in school .
I go to bed at ten evening .
My father is still in hospital .
My brother went to the school to see it .
My aunt and uncle visited him in the hospital.
6- Before names of relations like father , mother , aunt
, uncle and also cook and nurse , meaning our
cook,our nurse.

7- Before

Mother gove it to me.

Uncle visited us today.
Cook has made food for party .
predicative nouns denoting a unique

position :
He was elected chair man of the board.
8- In certain phrases consisting of a transitive verb
followed by object :
13

To send words , to bring words , to

catch fire, to leave home , to take breath .
9- In certain phrases consisting of a preposition
followed by it's object :
At dinner , at lunch, in hand , at home , by day, at
night , on carch , at moon , at sight , by land , by
train , by river , on deck , on horse back.
10- Special idioms with Zero article :
Hand in hand ,make light for .
Make room , go by car , arm in arm.

V- Repetition of the article :

1- When two or more adjectives qualify the same noun,
the article is used before the first adjective only :
I have a green and red phone .
(It means a phone that is party green and party red).
But when two or more adjectives qualify different
nouns , expressed or under stood. The article is
normally used before each adjective :
I have a green and a red phone .
(It means two phones , one green and other red)
2- When two or more connected nouns refer to the same
person or thing , the article is ordinary used before that
first only :
The composer and producer will come today.
(It indicates that the composer and producer is one
person).
But when two or more connected nouns refer to
different person or things , the article is used before
each :
The composer and the producer will come today.
(It indicates that the two professions are held by two
different person).
3- In expressing a comparison, if two nouns refer to the
same person or thing , the article is used before the
first noun only:
He is a better driver than player .
He is a better director than actor .
14

He would be a better doctor than teacher.

But if they refer to different persons or things, the
article must be used with each noun:
He is a better driver than a player.
(would make)
She would make a better poet than a novelist.
(would make)

ARTICLES AROUND THE NOUN IN CONTEXT

IThe can be used to highlight the specific nature
of something for emphasis .
At an air port cheek-in desk .
a-Airline Official : How many bags are you checking in ?
Passenger : Just the one .
b-Receptionist : So it is just one person then ?
Bill : No , no it is for the two of us.
Receptionist : Oh , I am sorry. Right two persons .

15

II-

Look at these examples of the use of the word

book(s)
a-(Customer in a book shop)
Customer : I am looking for a book by Charles Handy .
b-(Another Customer , this time the Customer is unhappy)
Customer : You do not have it .You never have the books I
need.
c-(A small child is trying to tear a book : Her mother gets
angry)
Mother No , no , that is horrible ! You do that to book.
d-To refer to one example of a general class of things we
use (a) .

SUMMARY

The basic usage of English Articles.

16

In English we use the definite article and the

indefinite articles a , an for general and particular
reference .
TYPE OF

INDEFINE

TYPE OF NOUN

REFERENCE
GENERAL

ARITICLE
a + an

Countable

REFERENCE

A cat is an
animal

TYPE OF

DEFINITE

TYPE OF NOUN

REFERENCE
GENERAL

ARTICLE
The + N

countable

REFERENCE

The horse is a
faithful animal

TYPE OF

ZERO

REFERENCE
ARTICLE
GENERAL O+N
REFERENCE Chocolate is

TYPE OF
NOUN
uncountable

grown in S.
Africa
O+N+S
Camels are

countable

found in
desert

Conclusion
This research work on the use of Articles in

English

has been designed and planned to meet the needs of

the requirements of SS and our fellow friends. It is a
17

joint efforts

of

many

experienced

hands

put

together . Care has been devoted to simplicity .

Paper deals with the definitions and use : The
main

body

of

this

paper

consists

of

different

types of examples . It also shows when an article

may be omitted or repeated . The concluding part
of the paper summarizes the whole topic . It also
makes passing reference to the article in context .
I end with a prayer of thanks to Allah almighty
for bringing me first attempt success.

18

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-

English Grammar Great Britain : Oxford.

Carter R.Hugh R. and McCarthy M (2000) . Exploring
Grammar in context. Great Britain Cambridge

university press.
Frank M .(1972) Modern English : New Jersey :

Prentice. Hall.
Murphy R.(1985) English Grammar in Use : United

Kingdom : Cambridge university press.

Murphy R.(1997) English Grammar in Use (2

Cambridge university press.

Praninskas J. (1959) Rapid review of English

Grammar USA : Prentice . Hall .inc .

Quirk . R, etal .(1985) m .A. Comprehensive Grammar

of the English language . New York : Longman.

Quirk . R \ Green . baums. (1973). A university

Grammar of English . Hong Kong : longman.

Swan . M. (1996) A Practical English Usay ; (2

ed ) . Hong Kong : oxford . University .

Thomson A . J \ Martinel A.V (1990) .A Practical

nd

, ed ) :

nd

English Grammar . ( 4th. ed ) . Hong Kong : oxford .

-

University press.
Wren . P. C \ Marlin H. (2001) High School English
Grammar and Composition . New Dilhi : S . Chand
and Company . L.t.d.

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